Checking Interest

[Silverback51]

I have done a lot of work on my suspension, springs/shocks, swaybars, lowered, etc., and I have checked around for a place to rent corner scales.

Have not been able to find any for rent.

So, are there any other owners interested in splitting the cost of a set? On Jeg's site they run from $730 to around $2000.

Or my other thought is to buy a set, and then rent them out for $50.00 for a week or so.

It's one of those things that's nice to have, but are hard to justify based on the limited use they will see.

So, is anyone else interested?

[WardL]

John, you might check the repair shops or racing clubs, you can find the scales there.

[MadDog]

I would be interested in renting scales to set my car up better for track days. MadDog

[patrickt]

You know, you can easily accomplish your goal for under a hundred bucks. Just buy four of these digital 400 lb. scales off Amazon at $22 a scale, then cut small wood platforms so that the platform is half on the scale and half on the pavement (less than $5 of wood per scale). Each wheel then sits on the platform and the reading is effectively half of the true weight of the wheel. If you "synch" out each scale beforehand by standing on it and holding a 50ish lb. weight in your hands then the delta between the scales (which is all you really care about) is going to be very, very small. Remembering that a gallon of gas weighs six pounds, I think this level of accuracy is just fine. And you can accomplish all of this for under a hundred bucks... and then give the scales to your friends as Christmas presents.

[Silverback51]

While the principle is correct, the setup for that would be difficult at best. The platform fulcrum points would have to be located within .100 of each other for it to function correctly. Then the center of the axles would also have to be centered in the platform between the fulcrum points to achieve the 50/50 ratio for the weight. Almost forgot. The platform would also need to be level, so fabrication of the fulcrum points would need to accommodate that also.
Most people would not get it right, and they would probably end up with a worse setup than if they just set the ride height with a tape measure.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Most people would not get it right, and they would probably end up with a worse setup than if they just set the ride height with a tape measure.

Well, I'm just proud of you for wanting to set your corner weights to begin with.

[bobcowan]

These are called Ruggles Scales. For some reason, they have become difficult to find. One of the aircraft companies (Spruce??) sells them, but three to a set instead of 4. They don't look to be difficult to make.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bobcowan

One of the aircraft companies (Spruce??) sells them, but three to a set instead of 4. They don't look to be difficult to make.

Yep, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. Ruggles Aircraft Scales - Dynamic Scales, Inc. - Scale & Measurement Specialist and I bet they'd throw in a fourth scale if you asked them nicely (and paid a little more).

[Blue Cobra]

Very nice suggestion Patrickt that fits a realistic budget.

MHO... unless you believe you drive the caliber of Gianmaria Bruni & Giancarlo Fisichella, I don't think even 50 pounds difference between wheels would make a noticeable difference.

Heck there are no doubt at least 1000 other factors that you could tune that would make your car even faster, but you better have a sponsor with deep pockets, maybe Budweiser?

Cheers and good luck!
Blue Cobra

[1blackbb66]

To anyone that has set up their car this way............was there much of a difference corner to corner when you first put the car on the scales?
Just curious.

Ray

[bobcowan]

The first time I did it, there was a big difference. And that's because I spent a lot of time getting the ride heights at each corner exactly right. That was the wrong thing to do.

But, here's an easy way that worked out really well for me:

- Disconnect sway bars, and add your weight to the drivers seat.

- Unload the suspension at each end, and set the collar so it just touches the top of the coil spring.

- Set it on the ground and roll it back and forth a few times. Check ride height front and rear.

- To change ride height, adjust the collars on each side exactly the same. 1 turn on the right, and one turn on the left. Do the same in the rear.

- repeat steps until you have the ride height where you want it. It will NOT be the same left and right. I think mine was off by about 3/16". When I put it on the scales, the cross weights were almost perfect, IIRC the difference was <0.01%. I left it there.

IMO, setting the balance is more important than ride height. I can really tell the difference when the balance is off. When I have a passenger at the track, the car feels different. When I have a passenger and a trunk load of stuff on the street, I can feel the difference.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 1blackbb66

To anyone that has set up their car this way............was there much of a difference corner to corner when you first put the car on the scales?
Just curious.

Ray

Ray, I've heard from Cobra owners who had initial cross weight differences of upwards of five percent (45/55). They reported that setting the corner weights made quite a difference, even for just "regular" driving. The next time you have your front end aligned, have them put it on the scales and tell you what the four corner weights are --if they're "way off," then you absolutely positively want to correct them. Of course, what constitutes being way off is a matter for another thread; but you get the idea.

[Dale McBain]

John,
I set up my race car (2480 lbs.) using 2X6's and cheap bathroom scales. It really works fine. If you need help calculating the weight based on the scale reading let me know. I will need measurements from all of load points, plus the overall length of you beam.
Dale

[Silverback51]

Thanks Dale, but I'm an engineer so I can do the calculations also.

I just thought if 3 or 4 other people were interested we could buy a set for a couple hundred bucks each for the NW club. Then we could either loan or rent them out.

I may still buy a set myself.

[Dale McBain]

The last set of electronic scales the SCCA purchased cost a couple a bunch of years ago. What do they cost now days?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Thanks Dale, but I'm an engineer so I can do the calculations also.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I actually made some calls on your behalf and was told that you can rent racing scales from here: Intercomp PT300 Racing Scales Longacre Central Carolina Scale

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Dale McBain

The last set of electronic scales the SCCA purchased cost a couple a bunch of years ago. What do they cost now days?

Jeg's had them from $730 to over $2000.

The big difference was the cheaper ones had cables and the more expensive sets were wireless. I can live with cables.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I actually made some calls on your behalf and was told that you can rent racing scales from here: Intercomp PT300 Racing Scales Longacre Central Carolina Scale

Kind of a long drive for me. They are in North Carolina, and I'm in Washington state.

But thanks for your effort.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Kind of a long drive for me. They are in North Carolina, and I'm in Washington state.

But thanks for your effort.

They ship them to you John. You just put your credit card down for a deposit against damage.

[Silverback51]

Missed that. I will go back and read them again.

I could use them on the Corvette too since I lowered it also.